Valve structure

ABSTRACT

For use in the control of flow in industrial instrumentation with respect to process or energy systems, valve aperture structure produced through CAD (Computer Aided Design), with performance support in the form and dimensioning of valve interiors; featuring case and simplicity of assembly, disassembly, and maintenance of valve structure through nested cage combinations; with valve structure lending itself to a product line of different types and sizes of valves with element interchangeability reducing the necessary number of elements; resulting in superior performance through the above and other features; sub-assemblies included are a double-cage noise reducer, a cooling system for use in bonnets, a bonnet packing renewal device, and a three-way valve body and plug combination.

United States Patent FLOW Curran 1 ar. 14, 1972 [54] VALVE STRUCTURE 2,895,495 7/1959 Bryant ..137/315 [72] Inventor: John R. Curran, Attleboro, Mass. Primary Examiner Henry T- Klinksiek [73] Assignee: The Foxboro Company, Foxboro, Mass. Attorney-Lawrence H. Poeton [22] Filed: June 1, 11970 ABSTRACT 21 N 1 Appl o 42426 For use in the control of flow in industrial instrumentation with respect to process or energy systems, valve aperture [52] US. Cl ..l37/269, 137/315, 137/625.37, structure produced through CAD (Computer Aided Design), 251/210, 2 1/282 with performance support in the form and dimensioning of Hllt. valve interiors; featuring case and of dis- [58] Fleld of Search-n 351/232 210i assembly, and maintenance of valve structure through nested 137/6253, 625.35, 625.33, 625.37, 454.6, 315, 269 cage combinations; with valve structure lending itself to a product line of different types and sizes of valves with element [56] References Cited interchangeability reducing the necessary number of ele- UNITED STATES PATENTS ments; resulting in superior performance through the above and other features; sub-assemblies included are a double-cage 1,493,293 5/1924 Tlmberlake ..251/356 X ois r ducer, a cooling system for use in bonnets, a bonnet 1,307,446 5/ 1931 Smaby packing renewal device, and a three way valve body and plug 3,454,035 7/ 1969 Jespersen.... ..l37/454.6 X combination 3,521,667 7/1970 Johnson... ..137/454.6

3,572,382 3/1971 Luthe ..137/625.35 30 Claims, 45 Drawing Figures Patented March 14, 1972 3,648,718

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1. A flow control valve structure comprising a valve body with a valve aperture in a central area therein, a ring shoulder about said aperture, and input and output flow passages to and from said area, a valve bonnet mounted on said body, and an internal assembly within said body, said internal assembly comprising a valve seat ring resting in said body on a seat ring gasket on said ring shoulder without attachment to said body, a cylindrical sleeve cage having side wall flow openings therethrough, said cage with one end pressuring said seat ring into place by pressure from said bonnet on the other end of said cage, and a valve plug and stem assembly mounted for movement within said cage, with said plug movement being with respect to said seat ring, to vary the flow passage size of said aperture, said cage having interior guide means within said body for guiding said movement of said plug and stem assembly, said valve body having an opening for loosely receiving said cage, with said bonnet and said other end of said cage having mutually matching flat end surface forms in engagement through a gasket, means for securing said bonnet to said body at points radially outside of said body opening whereby simple assembly and disassembly is provided of said body, bonnet, and internal assembly, with respect to each other, said valve structure thus comprising a series of loosely fitting building blocks, easily assembled and disassembled, yet tightly held together by said securement of said bonnet to said body, with proper alignment of said plug and stem assembly due to said cage interior guide means, said building blocks comprising said seat ring in said valve body, said cage in said valve body with one end pressuring said seat ring into place, and said bonnet boss, through which pressure is applied to said seat ring by way of said cage, said seat ring having a top surface step form; said cage having a bottom surface step form in nesting alignment with said seat ring top surface step form, with the step treads of said cage respectively overlying the step treads of said seat ring; said seat ring having a bottom surface step form, the step treads of which both at least partially overlie said ring shoulder about said valve aperture; a yoke and a packing gland flange on said bonnet; and a pair of fasteners, each of which is used to secure both said yoke and said packing gland flange to said bonnet.
 2. A flow control valve according to claim 1, wherein the construction of the valve is such, including the sufficiency and form of the flow passages and chambers, that the same flow rates are obtained for a given size valve with full area trim, for both stem and cage guided types, balanced or direct, and whether set up with percentage or linear characteristics.
 3. A flow control valve according to claim 1, wherein said valve aperture is variable in size as the plug is moved, to produce a calculated Cv percentage curve of operation to a high degree of performance by means of structural curve form as part of said aperture, said curve form having been shaped by minute shaping steps according to computer aided design referenced to an empirically ideal Cv percentage curve.
 4. A flow control valve according to claim 3, wherein the input flow passage to said valve aperture area is continuously increased in volume and the output flow passage from said area is continuously decreased in volume, in streamline and volumetric support of said high degree of performance.
 5. A valve structure according to claim 1, wherein the general form is selected from the types: stem guided valves, cage guided valves, and needle trim valves.
 6. A valve structure according to claim 1, wherein a soft seat valve is provided by simple insertion of a soft seat ring between the cage and the seat ring.
 7. A valve structure according to claim 1, wherein the plug and stem assembly is formed as a permanent unit by forcing material of one of the plug and stem units into locked relation with respect to the other.
 8. A valve according to claim 1, in the form of a stem-guided plug valve in which the cage is an assembly support device with a central, stem-guiding portion.
 9. A valve according to claim 1, wherein trim changes are made simply by disengaging the bonnet and body and substituting parts, such as valve seats, within the valve body.
 10. A product line of valves according to claim 1, of different types, trims, sizes, and characterization wherein, due to the building block structure, the product line is maximal in application and minimal in the necessary numbers of parts needed for on-shelf stocking.
 11. A flow control valve structure according to claim 1, wherein the bonnet is provided with a single size of yoke-mounting external diameter portion for each of a series of different size valves.
 12. A flow control valve structure according to claim 1, wherein a valve stem opening is provided through the bonnet of a sufficient size to provide for the use of different stem sizes by changing the packing size around the stem and in the valve stem opening.
 13. A flow control valve structure according to claim 1, wherein, with respect to the valve stem, a felt wiper and an outwardly convex wiper disc-clamp is provided on the outer end face of the packing gland flange to prevent dirt collecting cavity formation about the valve stem at its exit area with respect to the packing gland.
 14. A flow control valve structure comprising a valve body with a valve aperture in a central area therein and input and output flow passages to and from said area, a valve bonnet mounted on said body, and an internal assembly within said body, said internal assembly comprising a valve seat ring resting in said body without attachment to said body, a cylindrical sleeve cage having side wall flow openings therethrough, said cage with one end pressuring said seat ring into place by pressure from said bonnet on the other end of said cage, and a valve plug and stem assembly mounted for movement within said cage, with said plug movement being with respect to said seat ring, to vary the size of said aperture, said cage having interior guide means within said body for guiding said movement of said plug and stem assembly, said valve body having an opening for loosely receiving said other end of said cage, said openings having an annular step recess for receiving a boss portion of said bonnet, said other end of said cage lying within said valve body at the level of the bottom of said step recess, with said bonnet boss and said other end of said cage having mutually matching flat end surface forms in engagement through a gasket, without extension of either said cage or bonnet into each other beyond said surface forms, means for securing said bonnet to said body at points radially outside of said body opening whereby simple assembly and disassembly is provided of said body, bonnet, and internal assembly, with respect to each other, said valve structure thus comprising a series of loosely fitting building blocks, easily assembled and disassembled, yet tightly held together by said securement of said bonnet to said body, with proper alignment of said plug and stem assembly due to said cage interior guide means, said building blocks comprising said seat ring in said valve body, said cage in said valve body with one end pressuring said seat ring into place, and said bonnet boss, also within said valve body, through which pressure is applied to said seat ring by way of said cage, wherein a pair of fasteners is provided, each of which is used to secure both a yoke and a packing gland flange to the bonnet.
 15. In a stem-guided plug type valve, a seat ring, a sleeve cage pressuring said seat ring, and a valve bonnet pressuring said cage and to hold said cage pressure on said seat ring, said cage having a central shaft with an opening therethrough as a fixed guide for movement of a valve stem within the body of said valve.
 16. A plug type valve according to claim 15, wherein by simple disassembly and reassembly, a soft seat ring may be readily and quickly mounted between said cage and the regular seat ring.
 17. A valve assembly comprising a valve body, a seat ring counterbore of a first diameter, a bonnet counterbore of a second diameter, larger than said first diameter; a seat ring on a seat ring gasket, both in said seat ring counterbore; a cage in pressure applying relation to said seat ring to hold said seat ring in said seat ring counterbore; a bonnet, a central boss on an end of said bonnet and mounted in said bonnet counterbore in pressure applying relation with said cage, in aid of said cage pressure application to said seat ring, and a valve plug and stem assembly operationally mounted with respect to said seat ring, said bonnet being provided with a set of mounting bolts each securing to said bonnet both a yoke and a packing gland flange.
 18. A valve assembly comprising a valve body, a seat ring counterbore of a first diameter, a bonnet counterbore of a second diameter, larger than said first diameter; a seat ring on a seat ring gasket, both in said seat ring counterbore; a cage in pressure applying relation to said seat ring to hold said seat ring in said seat ring counterbore; a bonnet, a central boss on an end of said bonnet and mounted in said bonnet counterbore in pressure applying relation with said cage, in aid of said cage pressure application to said seat ring, and a valve plug and stem assembly operationally mounted with respect to said seat ring, a mounting assembly on said bonnet comprising a yoke lock ring, a keyed split ring securing said yoke lock ring, a packing gland, a packing gland flange on said packing gland, and a set of bolts, each of said bolts securing both said flange to said bonnet and securing a yoke to said bonnet.
 19. For use in a valve structure, a sleeve cage for mounting about a valve stem and plug as an assembly device, said cage having a central portion as a guide for said valve stem.
 20. For use in a valve structure, a mounting assembly for a valve bonnet comprising a yoke lock ring, a split ring keyed into said bonnet as a securement for said yoke lock ring, a packing gland inserted in said valve bonnet, a packing gland flange on said packing gland, and a set of bolts, each of said bolts securing both said flange to said gland and said yoke to said bonnet.
 21. A stem-guided plug type flow control valve for use in industrial systems, comprising a valve body, a valve bonnet mounted on said body, a valve yoke mounted on said bonnet, a valve cage and seat ring combination in said valve body, and a valve plug and stem assembly with said plug within said body in cooperation with said seat ring, said stem extending from said plug and through said bonnet into said yoke, said valve plug being movable, through actuation of said stem, with respect to said seat ring to provide variable aperture area in said valve; said body comprising a valving opening for receiving said plug, a counterbore around said valving opening for receiving said seat ring with gasketing, an input flow passage to said valving opening in continuously increasing volume, an output passage from the area of said valving opening in continuously decreasing volume, a valve cage receiving countErbore of greater diameter than said valve seat counterbore, and a bonnet boss receiving counterbore of greater diameter than said valve cage counterbore; said bonnet comprising an end boss mounted in said bonnet counterbore in said body, said end boss providing a flat wall interface with and within the interior of said valve body, a central opening through said bonnet for receiving said valve stem and packing around said valve stem, an external peripheral step form on said bonnet for receiving said yoke, a yoke lock ring, a split ring keyed in said bonnet as an anchor for said lock ring, a set of bolts threaded through said yoke lock ring for engaging and holding said yoke in said step form, a packing gland in the outer end of said bonnet, a packing gland flange holding said packing gland in said bonnet, said set of bolts also being the instrument of said flange holding, a felt wiper stem receiving ring on the outer side of said gland flange, and an outwardly convex wiper clamp ring over said felt wiper; said valve and seat ring combination comprising a valve seat ring in said body seat ring counterbore, a sleeve cage mounted on said seat ring, with a cage flange mounted in said body cage counterbore, said cage having side wall openings for fluid exit flow from said valve aperture, and a central stem guide boss, the interior of said cage being dead-ended with said body along said stem by the end face of said bonnet boss; and said plug and stem assembly comprising a computer contoured plug within said seat ring, and a stem threaded into one side of said plug, with material of said plug turned into a peripheral slot in said stem to permanently lock said plug to said stem.
 22. A stem-guided, plug type, needle trim valve for use in industrial systems, comprising a valve body, a valve bonnet mounted on said body, a valve yoke mounted on said bonnet, a valve cage and seat ring combination in said valve body, and a valve plug and stem assembly with said plug within said body in cooperation with said seat ring, said stem extending from said plug and through said bonnet into said yoke, said valve plug being movable, through actuation of said stem, with respect to said seat ring to provide variable aperture area in said valve; said body comprising a valving opening for receiving said plug, a counterbore around said valving opening for receiving said seat ring with gasketing, an input flow passage to said valve opening in continuously increasing volume, an output passage from the area of said valving opening in continuously decreasing volume and a bonnet boss receiving counterbore of greater diameter than said seat ring counterbore; said bonnet comprising an end boss mounted in said bonnet counterbore in said body, said end boss providing a flat wall interface with and within the interior of said valve body, a central opening through said bonnet for receiving said valve stem and packing around said valve stem, an external peripheral step form on said bonnet for receiving said yoke, a yoke lock ring, a split ring keyed in said bonnet as an anchor for said lock ring, a set of bolts threaded through said yoke lock ring for engaging and holding said yoke in said step form, a packing gland in the outer end of said bonnet, a packing gland flange holding said packing gland in said bonnet, said set of bolts also being the instrument of said flange holding, a felt wiper stem receiving ring on the outer side of said gland flange, and an outwardly convex wiper clamp ring over said felt wiper; said valve and seat ring combination comprising a valve seat ring in said body seat ring counterbore, a sleeve cage mounted on said seat ring, said cage having side wall openings for fluid exit flow from said valve aperture, a central stem guide area, a scraper ring for receiving said stem and mounted in said stem guide area, said stem guide area and said scraper ring providing a dead-ended chamber along said stem and within said cage; and said plug and stem assembly coMprising a computer contoured plug within said seat ring, and a stem threaded into one side of said plug, with material of said plug turned into a peripheral slot in said stem to permanently lock said plug to said stem.
 23. A cage guided flow control valve for use in industrial systems, comprising a valve body, a valve bonnet mounted on said body, a valve yoke mounted on said bonnet, a valve cage and seat ring combination in said valve body, and a valve plug and stem assembly with said plug within said body in cooperation with said seat ring, said stem extending from said plug and through said bonnet into said yoke, said valve plug being movable, through actuation of said stem, with respect to said seat ring to provide variable aperture area in said valve; said body comprising a valving opening for receiving said plug, a counterbore around said valving opening for receiving said seat ring with gasketing, an input flow passage to said valving opening in continuously increasing volume, an output passage from the area of said valving opening in continuously decreasing volume, a valve cage receiving counterbore of greater diameter than said valve seat counterbore, and a bonnet boss receiving counterbore of greater diameter than said valve cage counterbore; said bonnet comprising an end boss mounted in said bonnet counterbore in said body, said end boss providing a flat wall interface with and within the interior of said valve body, a central opening through said bonnet for receiving said valve stem and packing around said valve stem, an external peripheral step form on said bonnet for receiving said yoke, a yoke lock ring, a split ring keyed in said bonnet as an anchor for said lock ring, a set of bolts threaded through said yoke lock ring for engaging and holding said yoke in said step form, a packing gland in the outer end of said bonnet, a packing gland flange holding said packing gland in said bonnet, said set of bolts also being the instrument of said flange holding, a felt wiper stem receiving ring on the outer side of said gland flange, and an outwardly convex wiper clamp ring over said felt wiper; said valve and seat ring combination comprising a valve seat ring in said body seat ring counterbore, a sleeve cage mounted on said seat ring, with a cage flange mounted in said body cage counterbore, said cage having side wall openings computer contoured for cooperation with said plug in controlled exit flow of fluid from said valve aperture, and a central stem guide boss, the interior of said cage being dead-ended within said body along said stem by the end face of said bonnet boss; and said plug and stem assembly comprising a cylindrical plug fitted for piston movement within said cage, and a stem threaded in and extending through said plug, said stem having an end nut against said plug, with a portion of the end of said stem turned over on said nut, in permanent locking relation therewith.
 24. A flow control valve structure comprising a valve body, a valve bonnet mounted on said body, an interior flow passage system in said valve body, a bridge across said passage system into input and output portions, a valve aperture opening through said bridge, a nested assembly of a valve cage and a valve seat ring mounted about said bridge opening, and a valve stem and plug assembly mounted for valve aperture area change within said cage, wherein a valve aperture configuration is provided in terms of computer aided design, said input passage portion having a circular form at its inception, leading into an oval form having one dimension essentially equal to the diameter of said circular form and another dimension essentially equal to twice said diameter, said output passage portion having length which in form and dimension reverses that of said input passage portion, said input passage portion, immediately adjacent said bridge, having a depth at least equal to the diameter of said inception form, and said output passage portion, immediately Adjacent said cage, having depth in a direction away from said cage, essentially equal to a radius of said inception form.
 25. A flow control valve structure comprising a valve body, a valve bonnet mounted on said body, an interior flow passage system in said valve body, a bridge across said passage system into input and output portions, a valve aperture opening through said bridge, a nested assembly of a valve cage and a valve seat ring mounted about said bridge opening, and a valve stem and plug assembly mounted for valve aperture area change within said cage, wherein a valve aperture configuration is provided in terms of computer aided design, said structure having inner chambered form in the nature of a relatively large globe resting on a relatively small globe, with said bridge between said globes, in which said small globe has a diameter essentially equal to that of the inception of said input passage portion, and in which said larger globe has a peripheral form radiused in depth away from said cage essentially equal to the radius of said inception of said input passage, said small globe being centered essentially on a center line through said valve body and bonnet, and said larger globe depth being centered essentially in the wall of said cage.
 26. A flow control valve structure comprising a valve body, a valve bonnet on said body, and an interior assembly in said body comprising a valve sleeve cage in otherwise unsecured nested stack assembly on a valve seat ring, held by said bonnet, and a valve stem and plug combination mounted for valving operation within said cage, said stem and plug combination being provided with stem guidance means both in said bonnet and in said body.
 27. A flow control valve structure comprising a valve body, a valve bonnet on said body, and an interior assembly in said body comprising a valve sleeve cage in otherwise unsecured nested stack assembly on a valve seat ring, held by said bonnet, and a valve stem and plug combination mounted for valving operation within said cage, said cage being provided with a central, valve stem guide portion, within said body.
 28. A flow control valve structure comprising a valve body, a valve bonnet on said body, a yoke and packing gland flange on said bonnet, a pair of fasteners each of which is used to secure both said yoke and said packing gland flange to said bonnet, and an interior assembly in said body comprising a valve sleeve cage in otherwise unsecured nested stack assembly on a valve seat ring, held by said bonnet, and a valve stem and plug combination mounted for valving operation within said cage, said cage and seat ring combination being provided with a readily removable soft seat ring between said cage and said seat ring to establish a soft seat valve.
 29. A flow control valve structure comprising a valve body, a valve bonnet on said body, and an interior assembly in said body comprising a valve cage in otherwise unsecured nested stack assembly on a valve seat ring, held by said bonnet, and a valve stem and plug combination mounted for valving operation within said cage, said bonnet being provided with the same exterior peripheral dimension for each of a series of different size valves, whereby the same size yoke may be used with each of said different size valves.
 30. A flow control valve structure comprising a valve body, a valve bonnet on said body, and an interior assembly in said body comprising a valve cage in otherwise unsecured nested stack assembly on a valve seat ring, held by said bonnet, and a valve stem and plug combination mounted for valving operation within said cage, a packing gland flange and a yoke are secured to said bonnet by a pair of bolts, each of said bolts being used to secure both said yoke and said packing gland flange to said bonnet. 